Tuesday, 5 July 2011

Summer is finally here and I am sure we are all hopeful that this amazing sunshine will be with us for a while to come.

But as we all know, too much sun can be very bad for our skin. So here are some natural skin care saviours to help keep your skin looking and feeling fresh in the heat.
1. Keep Hydrated from the inside and out...

Drink plenty of fresh water and make sure you use natural skincare products that contain quenching H20. Natural toners that don’t contain alcohol can double up as a facial freshener in the summer. I keep a bottle of Rose, Geranium and Neroli Water natural toner in my handbag and spritz it over my face and the back of my neck throughout the day. Not only does it provide a hydrating skincare boost, but it also awakens my senses and helps counteract mid-afternoon energy slumps.

This amazing natural raw material can hold a thousand times its own weight in water and can really help hydrate our skin and give it a youthful plumpness. This amazing natural raw material has rightly received lots of positive press and back in August last year I wrote a skincare blog entry all about one of my favourite natural raw materials.

3. Exfoliate all year round….

Some people think we only need to do this during the winter months but it is important to use a mild and gentle (but effective) natural exfoliator all year round. Dead, dull skin is not confined to the winter months – it can occur at any time of the year and using natural exfoliators can help slough off those dead, dull and flaky skin cells. Using products that contain gentle fruit extracts like Papaya and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (often referred as AHA’s) can also speed up the renewal of healthy new skin cells. Not only does exfoliation slough of dead skin, but it can help other hydrating serums and moisturising creams to be absorbed more effectively into the skin. All this helps keep our skin looking and feeling more hydrated and healthier.

4. You might want to change your routine slightly during the summer...

In the heat, richer creams can sometimes seem too heavy (especially during the day). If you haven’t tried a natural face serum and face oil combination yet, now might be just the time to do so. A serum and natural face oils can work wonders as these two products can deliver really high levels of active raw materials and because they are very quickly absorbed, your skin will feel light and fresh, yet perfectly hydrated.

5. Protect your skin from the sun and keep wrinkles at bay...

Make sure you use a specific sun protector over your natural moisturiser, serum or face oil – not instead of! A sun protector should be exactly that – something that contains high level protection against UVA and UVB damage. This is another big subject that I will cover in a separate blog but for the moment, remember to use a sun protection over and above your normal hydrating and anti-ageing daily skincare routine.

6. Don’t leave your skincare routine at home!

It’s holiday time and many of us are lucky to pack a suitcase and spend some time away from home – whether it’s for a fortnight in the sun, a weekend visiting loved ones or frolicking at a festival. Wherever you are off to, make sure you don’t leave your good organic skincare routine at home! It may only be for a short time, but keeping up your daily three step routine is key: cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day. Many natural skincare companies make this easy by offering travel sizes of these three skincare essentials - so make sure you don’t leave home without yours this summer!